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ACAL NewsRecent Documents...
News Updates...ACAL News – Week of 9 November 2007Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust is a regional, private, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, founded in 1990 by a group of Tug Hill residents, and incorporated in 1991. The land trust serves the Tug Hill region in northern New York State and includes portions of Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, and Oswego counties. According to their website, Tug Hill Tomorrow was formed for two purposes: 1. To help increase awareness and appreciation of the Tug Hill region through educational efforts; and 2. To help retain the forest, farm, recreation and wild lands of the region through voluntary, private land protection efforts. Tug Hill Tomorrow consists of an eleven-member volunteer board, with Linda M. Garrett, as Executive Director. The land trust accepts tax-deductible donations and is always looking for volunteers to help with their mission. Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust held its annual dinner meeting on Thursday, November 1, 2007, at The Post House Banquet Facility/Freddy's Diner in Boonville, NY, from 6-9 PM. Special Guest, Dr. Gregory McGee of SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, spoke on "The Effects of Nitrogen & Acid Deposition on Tug Hill". Dr. McGee is an adjunct assistant professor in residence at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. His expertise includes ecology, management and restoration of forest ecosystems, and the effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on northern hardwood forests. According to the college website, Dr. McGee's research interests "focus on understanding the effects of forest management practices and land-use history on forest biodiversity and ecosystem processes. This research is being applied to develop forest management guidelines that will more effectively maintain biodiversity while permitting the sustained yield of forest products. I also conduct research on forest biogeochemistry and have a particular interest in nutrient cycling processes within old-growth forests and the effects of excessive atmospheric nitrogen deposition on forest nitrogen cycling." Adirondack Communities Advisory League (ACAL) Director of Research Kathy Crofoot of Boonville, attended Tug Hill Tomorrow’s annual dinner and would like to share some of the information included in Dr. McGee’s speech: Dr. McGee held a captive audience as he described the results of a two-year study, which shows that Tug Hill receives some of the highest levels of nitrogen deposition in the country. The data indicates the Tug Hill currently experiences annual cycles of high nitrogen levels during snow melt with washout into the streams, and lower levels during the growing season when plants are able to take up available nitrogen. Excessive levels of nitrogen deplete the soil of needed nutrients such as magnesium, which is “vital to the chlorophyll molecule”, according to Dr. McGee. If conditions progress to a state of “Nitrogen Saturation”, levels will remain at a constant high level even during the growing season. The long-term impact will be a decline in forest growth. Thanks to the Clean Air Act, sulfur deposition has decreased significantly, but due to the causes such as burning of fossil fuels (coal, petroleum), nitrogen is a much tougher problem to solve. Dr. McGee indicated that controls would have to be applied at the national level. In addition to other programs and projects relating to the Tug Hill region, the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, is directly involved in working with private landowners to create conservation easements. According to their website, A conservation easement is a legal, voluntary agreement between a landowner and a private land trust (such as Tug Hill Tomorrow), government agency, or another qualified organization that protects the natural, agricultural, recreational, scenic, or historic features of the property in perpetuity. With a conservation easement on your land, you are assured that your land will be protected forever without giving up ownership of the land. Conservation easements are very flexible and are tailored to each landowner and property. For example, a landowner may want to retain the right to farm or harvest timber, or retain future building rights. These details are worked out between the landowner and the Land Trust. Conservation easements allow landowners to permanently protect their land. According to Tug Hill Tomorrow’s website, “in 2006, New York State passed the Conservation Easement Tax Credit which gives the landowner of a donated easement an annual, refundable income tax credit of 25% of the property taxes paid on land protected by a conservation easement, up to $5000 per year.” With a conservation easement in place, landowners can: • Preserve land areas for outdoor recreation • Protect natural wildlife habitats and ecosystems • Preserve open space, including farm and forested land • Preserve historically important land areas or buildings Land trusts in rural areas of New York State are becoming more prevalent as landowners seek to protect their lands forever. Many farms have been in families for generations. As the working farmer edges closer to retirement, sometimes there are no family members to carry on the business. Instead of selling the farm to a developer and adding to the sprawl already reaching into rural townships, farmers can place their land into a conservation easement. The property is then protected, while farmers retain ownership of their land. The Tug Hill region, known for thousands of acres of undeveloped land, is fortunate to have an organization such as Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, working to preserve the lands, forests, waters, wildlife and history in northern New York State. For more information about the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, please visit their website, http://www.tughilltomorrowlandtrust.org By Jacki Chamberlain with Kathy Crofoot Adirondack Communities Advisory League (ACAL) To view the organization's map, click on this link: http://www.tughilltomorrowlandtrust.org/map.cfm 03/16/12 - NEW SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION 08/07/11 - Can Landfill Odors Be Prevented? 07/27/11 - Don't Give Up the Ship 12/21/10 - AUTHORITY SETTLES LAWSUIT WITH ACAL 10/11/10 - Black River Trash Bash 07/02/10 - Burning household trash is illegal in New York 06/17/10 - New Yorkers for Zero Waste Platform 07/13/09 - ACAL - Alive and well 04/13/08 - ACAL 2008 Update - Part 2 03/18/08 - ACAL Continues Environmental Mission in 2008 11/09/07 - Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust 10/26/07 - A good read - The Adirondack Atlas 10/12/07 - New York State Opening Meeting Law 09/28/07 - ACAL Fall Foliage Auction Oct. 5 09/21/07 - Integrity found in the Town of Ava 09/14/07 - Tug Hill resources have been targeted 08/19/07 - Fair and straighforward journalism? 08/10/07 - A Needed Appreciation for Nature 08/03/07 - New York State Municipal Home Rule Law 07/27/07 - Boonville Village Litter/Debris Local Law 07/19/07 - Black River Landing Subdivision Issues 07/13/07 - WTE vs. Landfills 06/29/07 - Too many impaired waters - Black River Watershed 06/22/07 - Protecting our drinking water starts at home 06/15/07 - ACAL Joins Northern Forest Alliance 06/07/07 - ACAL Holds 200/20 Drawing & Picnic, Annual Meeting 06/07/07 - ACAL AWARDED GRANT 06/01/07 - Be a solution - get involved 05/25/07 - American flags do not belong in landfills 05/24/07 - PRESS RELEASE - ACAL Signs Stolen & Vandalized 05/18/07 - Reality check for the DEC 05/04/07 - All citizens are called to act responsibly 04/27/07 - "An Inconvenient Truth" 04/13/07 - Citizens Deserve the Whole Truth ... 04/06/07 - Great Lakes United & Citizen Resources 03/30/07 - "What is the future of local government?" 03/23/07 - Citizens Expect More From Local Government 03/16/07 - Plastic Grocery Bags Harm Wildlife 03/09/07 - The Precious Gift of Water 03/02/07 - Working Together to Protect the Environment 02/26/07 - Grassroots groups are citizens who care! 02/16/07 - Local Citizens Want Environment Protected 02/09/07 - Open Letter to Boonville Town/Village Officials 02/02/07 - Ava Landfill Story Told in Chicago 01/26/07 - It's time for New Yorkers to reclaim their rights! 01/12/07 - CITIZENS' RIGHTS ARE NOT FOR SALE! 01/05/07 - "DO NOT LITTER" Applies to Everyone 12/15/06 - "March of the Penguins" 12/08/06 - Be "good news" in the community 12/01/06 - Moose Creek Prediction - 12 years ago! 11/22/06 - United Haulers v. OHSWA 11/17/06 - A Citizen's Rights 11/03/06 - EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE 11/01/06 - ACAL statement regarding opening of landfill 10/24/06 - OHSWA Opens Landfill Without Required DEC Permit 10/20/06 - OHSWA required by DEC to have proper permit 10/13/06 - Dr. Bob Johnson Speaks at Public Forum 10/06/06 - OHSWA Fails to Deliver 10/04/06 - PRESS RELEASE - Court Denies OHSWA Motions 09/26/06 - PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT 09/21/06 - If OHSWA knew what they were doing ... 09/08/06 - Joint Board Resolution Revisited 08/28/06 - A Special Message 08/11/06 - Who will save the Town of Ava? 07/21/06 - The Emperor isn't wearing any clothes! 06/10/06 - Honoring Flag Day 05/19/06 - Local Residents Demand Protection for Environment 05/12/06 - The Foundation for a Better Life 05/05/06 - ACAL will pursue justice 04/28/06 - "Tug Hill, A Threatened Paradise" 04/21/06 - NYS environmental law contradicts State action 04/13/06 - The Tug Hill Plateau is worth protecting! 03/22/06 - Press Release - OHSWA & Rifenburg Being Sued 02/24/06 - ACAL Finds NYSDEC Consent Out of Order 02/03/06 - ACAL Defends the Truth 01/02/06 - PRESS RELEASE 12/15/05 - ACAL Continues with its Mission 12/01/05 - Tug Hill Heritage 11/23/05 - Boonville Breaks Resolution 11/06/05 - October 2005 OHSWA meeting 10/28/05 - NYS Waste Disposal Policies Not Enforced 10/21/05 - Environmental Conservation Laws 10/12/05 - Response to Village Trustee 09/23/05 - OHSWA Permit Violations 09/16/05 - ACAL Misinformation 09/07/05 - Press Release: DEC Enforcement Action 08/24/05 - ACAL Misinformation 08/05/05 - It's never too late 07/22/05 - Citizens, stand strong - DO NOT NEGOTIATE! 07/15/05 - PRESS RELEASE - Problems on Ava Landfill Site 07/08/05 - The truth must be told 07/07/05 - WBRV Statement #5 - DANGER to our drinking water 07/06/05 - WBRV Statement #4 - Polluting landfills kill 07/05/05 - WBRV STATEMENT #3 - Boonville Poll Not Official 06/29/05 - WBRV Statement #2 - Landfills provide NO benefits 06/27/05 - WBRV Statement #1 -Towns must stick together 06/24/05 - Waste to energy facilities better alternative 06/17/05 - Boonville boards break agreement 06/17/05 - Slope failure sends mud into Moose Creek AGAIN! 06/12/05 - Environmentally safe alternatives to landfills 05/27/05 - Town of Ava will file an appeal 05/22/05 - Dynamite blasting on landfill site? 05/15/05 - Oneida County in Trouble 05/08/05 - FACTS and What You Can Do 05/01/05 - Community Gathers for Prayer Service 04/24/05 - Personal Letter to NYS Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi 04/17/05 - Power of Prayer 04/03/05 - The Waste Authority Must Be Stopped! 03/27/05 - Letter to NYS Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi 03/20/05 - OHSWA Propaganda 03/13/05 - Letter to Griffo - Put Words into Action! 03/06/05 - Get involved in your community 02/27/05 - Assemblyman Townsend Has Concerns Re: OHSWA 02/06/05 - Power of the Press 01/24/05 - Legislator Pam Mandryck Opposes SWA Reappointment 01/02/05 - Weeks of 1/2 - 1/16/05 12/22/04 - Response to letter 12/12/04 - Senator Ray Meier Favors Ava Landfill 11/28/04 - Proud Heritage 11/14/04 - Oneida County chooses - for the people, or not? 11/07/04 - Letters sent to Governor and NYS Senators 10/31/04 - Ava/Boonville future - NO DUMP! 10/28/04 - Letter to Governor Pataki 10/24/04 - Environment Justice All the Way! 10/22/04 - Press Release 10/17/04 - No Civil Rights for Ava Residents 10/10/04 - Article 78 Lawsuit Against DEC Commissioner Crotty 10/03/04 - 400+ Days and Still Fighting! 09/27/04 - Family Home Threatened 09/26/04 - Important Facts to Know About the Ava Landfill 09/19/04 - Letter from Concerned Citizen 09/12/04 - Small Town of Ava Dragged into Court by OHSWA 08/29/04 - Where Do Your Loyalities Lie? 08/22/04 - Beaver Dam Incident Still a Mystery 08/15/04 - Ava-Boonville-Lewis Joint Boards Resolution |
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